Cucumber Dill Salad with Buttermilk Dressing | Healthy Indian Salads

Salads play a vital role in a balanced diet, offering a mix of flavors, textures, and essential nutrients. Adding salads to your daily meals not only boosts your intake of fiber and vitamins but also provides a refreshing way to enjoy seasonal ingredients. Cucumber Dill Salad with Buttermilk Dressing is a perfect blend of freshness and tanginess, ideal for a light meal or as a side to your favorite dishes.

I remember having a similar cucumber salad during my travels on a highway cafe, and the combination of dill and yogurt dressing left such a lasting impression that I had to recreate it at home but as usual with my own tweaks to it . Now, it’s one of my go-to healthy salads, especially when I want something quick, refreshing and cooling.

Health Benefits of Cucumber Dill Salad

This Cucumber Dill Salad is packed with nutritious ingredients. Cucumbers are known for their hydrating properties, keeping you refreshed and aiding in digestion. Dill is an excellent source of antioxidants, helping to fight inflammation, while the buttermilk dressing, made with low-fat curd, offers probiotics for better gut health. The healthy fats from paneer and cashews make this salad a wholesome option, providing necessary proteins and keeping you full longer.

video recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cucumbers, cut into half moons
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup finely chopped dill leaves
• 1/4 tsp salt (for cucumbers)

For the Buttermilk Dressing:

• 1 tbsp low-fat curd
• 3 cloves garlic
• 4 cashews
• 5 small cubes of paneer
• 1/2 tsp pepper powder
• 1 tsp mustard sauce
• Juice of 1/2 lemon

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, add the cucumber slices, onions, and salt. Mix well and let it rest for a few minutes.
2. In a blender, add curd, garlic, cashews, paneer, pepper powder, mustard sauce, and lemon juice. Grind to a fine paste, adding a little water if needed to get a thin dressing consistency.
3. Add the buttermilk dressing to the cucumber and onion mixture. Stir well to combine.
4. Finally, mix in the finely chopped dill leaves and serve fresh.

Step pics

wash and prepare the cucumbers to a half moon shape

add onion thinly sliced

add salt

toss the vegetables with toss to evenly coat it.

let it rest for few minutes while we prepare the dressing

for the dressing: add curd to a bowl/blender

add cloves of garlic

add whole cashews

cubes of paneer

crushed pepper powder

add mustard sauce

juice of 1/2 lemon

grind everything to a fine paste adding little water

prepare to a thin consistency like a buttermilk or a thick creamy as per your preference. in that case, do not add water while grinding.

pour the dressing over the salad

add the chopped dill leaves

mix well

transfer to serving bowl lined with lettuce leaves

add more of dressing if you prefer

Expert Tips:

1. Resting the cucumbers with salt draws out excess water, enhancing the texture of the salad.
2. Use freshly chopped dill for the best flavor—it adds a unique, refreshing taste.
3. Serve the salad immediately for maximum crunch and flavor.